Sourav Ganguly elected in National Cricket Club executive council

Kolkata: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was on Thursday elected in the executive council of the National Cricket Club (NCC) at its annual general meeting at Eden Gardens here.

The executive committee will within three months' time elect the office bearers as the former India captain may also occupy the president's post of NCC which is lying vacant after the demise of Jagmohan Dalmiya.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president received an overwhelming 600-plus, the maximum, votes, eminent lawyer Ushanath Banerjee, who too was elected into the 21-member executive committee, said. According to a joint statement signed by chief public prosecutor, chairman and working president Manik Bhattacharya, 614 members directly or through proxy were present in the meeting.

"Meeting was extremely harmonious and cordial, we have some highly experienced members in the committee which will elect the office bearers in three months' time," another executive member Avishek Dalmiya, who is also the CAB joint-secretary said.

Earlier, a revolting NCC group had claimed gross irregularities in the AGM and moved city civil court.

Countering the charges, eminent lawyer Ushanath Banerjee termed it a gimmick with the sole vested interest of getting a few posts and tickets.

"They're wanting posts. Many of us have received a lot of phone calls, saying 'get us just six posts and it will be the end of matter'," Banerjee said.

Asked about the allegation that notices were sent to a few members without the signature of the secretary which is a must, he said: "It is not needed as per law."

"For example, if a company has one lakh shareholders, is a signed notice sent to all of them? It's a wrong interpretation of the Article. There's no provision of a signature under Article 76," he pointed out.

He further challenged the claims that the AGM was held for the first time in 30 years.

"It's a wild allegation. Is everyone sleeping under ROC. Under the law you have to file. It's a story. You can verify from ROC. This is gimmick. They're interested in certain posts and tickets, nothing else. We're not aware of any legal matter involving NCC. It's a mistake that the said 'case' would be

heard on January 2. There's no listing in City Civil Court."